Still clean-out return bend



Sept. 4, 1934. HOUSER 1,972,445

STILL CLEAN-OUT RETURN BEND Filed March 5, 1933 1? If I 7 lia /era Zr: Y Jrfiam/Zaf w Patented Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,445 STILL CLEAN-OUT RETURN BEND Arthur M. Houser, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Crane (30., Chicago, Illinois 111., .a corporation of Application March 3, 1933, Serial No. 659,527

1 Claim.

This invention relates to return bends, and more particularly to that kind known as the cleanout type, the latter being used for removing petroleum coke and other products of combustion accumulating in the tubes and headers as a result of the high temperature oil cracking processes employed in refining oil and making gasoline in stills, boilers, and devices of similar nature.

It is well accepted that in the interests of economy a's well as in furtherance of producing better gradesof hydrocarbon fuels more efliciently, there is a decided tendency to increase the operating pressures as well as temperatures in the refining of crude oil. With these pressure conditions be- 1 coming more severe it is necessary to provide for cleanout return bends which will embody a construction consistent with safety and at the same time provide convenience in assembling and disassembling the joint for cleanout purposes, inspection, etc.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide for a return bend which can be installed in an assembly with a bank of tubes without requiring considerable space therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide abend which will have the necessary rigidity to avoid distortion under temperature conditions, being able to remedy the sagging of tubes and replacing the same quickly and easily if necessary,

and to permit of the rotation of the latter in the event of extreme sagging.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the proper spacing of tubes with a suitable guide means.

Other advantages will become apparent after reading the following description, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of a'return bend showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same return bend in partial section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the return bend taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, a fitting 1 is shown which is commonly known as a return bend, which may be either forged or cast, and which is provided with an interior port 2 which extends around in a semi-circular path to connect the tubes 3 at their respective ends.

The ends of the tubes are abutted to .the ports by means of a ground joint or similar connection a, forming a joint as at 5.

In order to make a proper joint with the return bend, the tubes are preferably threaded as shown at 6, which engage complementary threads on the collar '7, which is preferably ring shaped or cylindrical in form so as to fit into the socket 8 of the link member 9. The latter is substantially rectangular in form as shown in Fig. 2 and extends across to connect the tubes in spaced relation through the apertures 10. In order to assist the entry of the collar 7 into the socket 8 after it has been attached to the tube 3, by means of the threads 6, the latter is preferably tapered at its lower end as at 20 where it approaches the shoulder 12.

In order to protect the finished surfaces 4 and 5 forming the joint for the assembly it is preferable to provide a surrounding lip 22 which extends annularly around the machined joint. surfaces thus forming a socket 23 for the entry of the tubing 3. The collar 7 is attached to the tubing by means of the threads as previously mentioned,

and the tubing is allowed to extend beyond the upper surface 11 of the collar 7 apredetermined amount so that when the latter is held in engagement with the link member 9, the tubing 3 will remain adjusted in fixed relation with respect to the shoulder 12. This is essential because unless the distance between the shoulder 12 and the end of tubing as at 4 is carefully gauged evenly for both tubes before assembling with the return bend, distortion strains will be set up, probably resulting in leakage.

Therefore, after the collar 7 has been placed on the tubing in proper relation to the seating surface 4, the collar for each pair of tubes is inserted into the socket 8 and heldfixedly against the shoulder 12 by the washer l8 and the bolt 16, which overlaps the collar '7 sufficiently as at 19 so as to hold the latter in position with respect to the surface 15. The bolt 16 is preferably tapped into the link member 9 as shown at 1'7.

After this assembly is complete the return bond 1 is then abutted against the finished ends 4 of the tubing and bolted to the link member 9 by means of the studs and nuts 13 and 14, respectively. The recess or hollow 21 permits of the entry of the bolt head 16, preventing injury thereto or tampering therewith.

obviously this invention is capable of several modifications and I- desire, therefore, to be limited only to the extent of the following claim.

I claim:

In a return bend, comprising in combination a pair of. tubes having at their respective ends finished surfaces of spheroidal contour for contact with complementary surfaces on said return bend, an annular lip surrounding the said contact and a threaded collar for each pair of tubes threadedly engaging the latter, a link member for holding said tubes in spaced axial relation to each other and provided with spaced sockets for the retention of each of said collars, and each of said sockets providing for centering means for said collars, bolt and washer means for holding each collar within said sockets, the said link member having cooperative means for being held to said return bend in pressure-tight relation.

ARTHUR M. HOUSER. 

